Oscar winner Emerald Fennell has finally pulled back the curtain on her cancelled superhero movie. The filmmaker recently revealed her script for DC’s Zatanna was a “demented” exploration of female psychology. She described the unproduced project as a story about a woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown. This news offers a fascinating glimpse into a dark comic book movie that never came to be.
A Darker Shade of Magic
Emerald Fennell sat down for a candid interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast recently. She discussed her journey from Promising Young Woman to the big budget world of DC Comics. Fennell confirmed that her take on the magician superhero Zatanna was incredibly dark and personal.
She explained that she tried to connect with the genre in the only way she knew how. This meant stripping away the typical hero tropes. She wanted to focus on the mental state of the protagonist.
“I was like, ‘okay, how do I make the version of a superhero movie that I would connect to emotionally?'” Fennell explained during the interview. “Which is sort of the woman in the middle of a nervous breakdown.”
The director admitted she has not read the script in a long time. She noted that it was difficult to look back on. The script was likely too unusual for a major studio trying to build a mass appeal franchise.
Fennell described the tone as “super demented” in the past. This aligns with her filmmaking style seen in Saltburn. She pushes boundaries and explores uncomfortable themes. It seems her vision for the Justice League Dark member was no exception.
Emerald Fennell Zatanna movie script details dark psychological thriller
The JJ Abrams Connection
The project was originally set up under Bad Robot. This is the production company led by J.J. Abrams. Warner Bros. had tapped Abrams to build a “Justice League Dark” universe. This corner of the franchise was meant to focus on supernatural characters like Constantine and Swamp Thing.
Fennell expressed deep gratitude toward Abrams. She noted that he took a chance on her before she became a household name.
“I love JJ so much,” Fennell said. “And he took a chance on offering me to do it. And I really wanted to deliver something amazing for them.”
However, the collaboration highlighted a clash in visions. Fennell felt her script might have been too personal for the studio system.
Here is a breakdown of the production timeline:
- 2021: Emerald Fennell is hired to write Zatanna.
- 2022: Discovery merges with WarnerMedia.
- 2023: James Gunn and Peter Safran take over DC Studios.
- Outcome: The “Justice League Dark” plans are scrapped to make way for the new DC Universe.
The shift in leadership at DC Studios signaled the end for many projects. Projects that did not fit the new Gods and Monsters plan were cancelled. Fennell’s unique psychological thriller unfortunately fell into this category.
Who Is Zatanna?
General audiences might not know Zatanna Zatara well. However, she is a massive favorite among comic book readers.
She is a powerful magician who performs on stage. Her true power lies in her ability to cast spells by speaking words backward.
- Real Name: Zatanna Zatara
- Occupation: Stage Magician and Superhero
- Key Affiliation: Justice League Dark
- Signature Look: Top hat, tuxedo jacket, fishnet stockings
A movie focusing on her mental state would have been groundbreaking. Most superhero films focus on external threats. Fennell wanted to focus on the internal battle.
Fans have long argued that magic users in DC require a darker tone. The character deals with demons and dark arts daily. A story about a nervous breakdown fits the trauma often associated with the character in the comics.
“Nobody would have made it,” Fennell joked about specific scenes in her script. This suggests the content was likely R-rated or visually disturbing.
What Could Have Been
The superhero genre has faced criticism lately. Many viewers complain about “superhero fatigue.” This usually refers to movies that follow a safe and predictable formula.
Fennell offered something radically different. Her film could have been the antidote to the repetitive action movies currently in theaters.
We have seen success with character studies before. Joker proved that audiences want psychological depth. A female-led film with that same intensity is rare.
Fennell is now moving on to other big projects. She is working on a film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. This project will star Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
She admits she works best when she controls the world completely.
“I can only make the one thing that I’m preoccupied with at a time,” Fennell stated. “If I can’t go to my imaginary world, then I feel very marooned.”
This level of dedication is what makes her an auteur. It is also likely why a shared universe constraint did not work for her.
The loss of this Zatanna movie is a blow to fans of experimental cinema. It represents a bold swing that the studio was afraid to take. We can only imagine the visual flair Fennell would have brought to real magic.
For now, the character of Zatanna remains on the shelf. James Gunn may introduce her in the future. But it is unlikely it will be the “demented” version Fennell dreamed up.
Fennell has proven she is a powerhouse talent. Her work continues to challenge audiences. While we will not see her magic trick, her career is certainly not an illusion.
We are left with a fascinating “what if” scenario. A world where a superhero movie was treated like a psychological horror. It sounds terrifying and wonderful all at once.
What do you think about this cancelled project? Would you watch a dark superhero movie about a nervous breakdown? Share your thoughts in the comments below or tag us on social media using #Zatanna to keep the conversation going.
